What is the role of the corresponding application in the PPH process?

In the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) process, the corresponding application plays a crucial role as evidence for allowed claims. The PPH allows an applicant who has received a positive ruling on patentability from a participating office to expedite the examination of a corresponding application in another participating office. Specifically, the claims that have been allowed in the corresponding application provide a basis for the applicant to argue that similar claims should also be allowed in the second application.

The PPH process relies heavily on the results obtained from the first examination, which is a reflection of the patentability of the claims based on prior art and other factors evaluated by the patent office. By using the allowed claims as evidence, the second patent office can more efficiently assess whether the corresponding application meets the necessary criteria for patentability, thereby streamlining the examination process.

While other options may touch upon aspects of the PPH process, they do not capture the central function of the corresponding application as effectively as the correct choice. This emphasis on allowed claims demonstrates the collaborative nature of the PPH and the integration between different patent offices in evaluating the novelty and non-obviousness of claims.